Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives last week passed H.R. 2825, the Department of Homeland Security Reauthorization Act of 2017. This marks the first time since the Homeland Security Act of 2002 that either chamber of Congress has passed an authorization bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The 9/11 Commission, led by former Gov. Tom Kean (R-NJ) and former Rep. Lee Hamilton (D-IN), who currently co-chair the National Security Program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, recommended in 2004 that Congress “create a single, principal point of oversight and review for homeland security.” Kean and Hamilton have strongly advocated for that congressional action in the years since and believe that the passage of H.R. 2825 is an important step toward fulfilling that recommendation.

Kean and Hamilton applaud the efforts of House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), Ranking Member Bennie Thompson (D-MS), and all members of the committee, in advancing this necessary legislation. House leadership and the chairs and ranking members of the other relevant committees also deserve recognition for making this milestone possible.

We are hopeful that passage of this landmark bill will prove the first step toward much-needed reform and strengthening of congressional oversight of homeland security.

“We are hopeful that passage of this landmark bill will prove the first step toward much-needed reform and strengthening of congressional oversight of homeland security,” Kean and Hamilton said.